A team from Falmouth School broke the school record for completing a gruelling 35-mile army-organised hike.

After months of intense training and hundreds of miles under their belts, Year 10 students Max Amos, Adam Campbell, Eddie Emsden, Adam Forbes, Tobi Peters and Dawson Smith all completed the Ten Tors challenge in the fastest time posted by any other Falmouth school team. 

Falmouth year 11 Rylee Metcalf also completed an extended 45-mile Ten Tors challenge with the Cornwall Army Cadet Force Team.

On arriving at the Okehampton Army Camp on Friday (May 10), the Falmouth School team's kit was rigorously checked before everyone attended a briefing where they found out the route they would be taking.

That evening, the team had dinner and were given time to plan their routes, taking into consideration the areas they needed to avoid such as rare bird nesting areas, rivers and roads.

At 5am on Saturday morning the campsite rang out the tune of Chariots of Fire which is the official wake up call.

Whilst the teams made their final kit and route checks, the dedicated management team were preparing a hearty breakfast for all the students and also the parents, who made the trip to see their children start the gruelling challenge.

At 7am after a parachute display from the Army, two cannons were fired and the bugle sounded to signal the start of their 35 mile hike. There was a host of interest from the National Press, a flurry of support from back home and the dedicated parents taking their own challenge to visit the teams at checkpoints. The Falmouth School Team was cheered over the finish line on Sunday morning at 09:40am by staff, parents and other family members who made the trip to Dartmoor.

Mr Tregear, Outdoor Education Lead said "I am extremely proud of our students, their dedication and determination during training over the last six months has led to their success at the weekend. Their sense of unity and resilience drove them to be successful in challenging circumstances. Thank you for all the support of the parents and staff at the school who have given their time to support the Ten Tors team and a special thanks to Chris Mayer, Castle Sports and Uniform Limited and Hawkshead Falmouth for supporting the teams through training and at the event."

The Ten Tors is a selective team event and has to have a high level of commitment from all team members which is only available to a final team of 6 students carrying up to 13.6kg of tents, bedding, food, water, clothing and equipment.

The Challenge is limited to 2,400 individuals (four hundred teams of six teenagers). The teams, depending on age, face hikes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (56, 72 or 88km) over the rough terrain of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors / check points in under two days. The teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely.